Community paramedicine expanding to Lumby

April 27, 2016

"This expanded program is great news for residents of Lumby, who will have greater access to care closer to home. Ensuring rural communities have access to health-care services is critical. We rely on our paramedics, and this program will enhance the work they already do."

Eric FosterMLA for Vernon-Monashee

LUMBY – Lumby is one of 73 rural and remote B.C. communities that will welcome community paramedicine, a program that offers residents enhanced health services from paramedics. Lumby is receiving one paramedic on a half-time basis.

The program is part of the B.C. government’s plan to enhance primary care service delivery to British Columbians. Under the program, paramedics will provide basic health-care services, within their scope of practice, in partnership with local health-care providers, delivered in non-urgent settings, in patients’ homes or in the community.

“This expanded program is great news for residents of Lumby, who will have greater access to care closer to home,” Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster said. “Ensuring rural communities have access to health-care services is critical. We rely on our paramedics, and this program will enhance the work they already do.”

Community paramedics are expected to be delivering community health services in Interior B.C., including Lumby, in early 2017.

The services provided may include checking blood pressure, assisting with diabetic care, helping to identify fall hazards, medication assessment, post-injury or illness evaluation, and assisting with respiratory conditions. The paramedics will perform assessments requested by the referring health-care professional, and record their findings for the patient’s file. The enhanced role will not replace care provided by health professionals such as nurses, but will complement and support their work.

Initially introduced in the province in 2015 in nine communities, the community paramedicine initiative is now expanding provincewide, including 31 communities in the Interior.

BC Emergency Health Services has been co-ordinating the implementation of community paramedicine with the Ministry of Health, regional health authorities, the Ambulance Paramedics of BC (CUPE 873), the First Nations Health Authority and others.